Mixing apparatus



y 1935- E. A. COLBURN, JR I 0 MIXING APPARATUS Original Filed March 26, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I v Z2 22 2. 4 9 M F v J "FL-" ill-Ill INVENTOR.

Patented May 21, 1935 PATE T} OFFICE mx'mo. APPARATUS Ernest A. Colburn,".lr., Congress, Aria, assignor to Denver Patent Company, Denver, 0010.

Application March, 26 1921, Serial No. 178,624

, Renewed February 11-, 1935 10 Claims. (01. 259-96) My invention relates to apparatus for thesepathe invention to provide troduction of material to mechanism for the in:

be treated, below a del 5 terminate liquid level in a spitzkasten or other suitable vessel. and subjec ting it there to a scouring and mixing action which causes the material to readily separate into its metallic constituents which subsequently rise to thessurface of the liquid. and the silicious gangue which settles to,

the bottom of the vessel.

Another object is to provide a mechanism by which the above stated actions are accomplished without undueragitation of the liquid in the vessel which might detrimentally interfere with the separating process as for example by the formation of a. vortex from the rotary movement of a part of the element included in the apparatus by which thescouring and mixing action is producecL Another object of the invention resides in pro-- viding a mechanism of the above described character which in its entirety and as a single unit can be removed from the spitzkasten and subsequently replaced without interfering with the operation or without the the vessel in which it is necessity of emptying installed, this being of and repairs.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for admitting the material to the spitzka'sten and securing and mixing the-same at a pressure. less than atmospheric, which mechanism by a simple adjustment may be employed to remove the set.- tled solids from the bottom portion of the vessel. A further object istoprovide in a mechanism of the above described nature, means for aerating the material thereby aiding in theseparation of its values from the gangue andstill other objects reside-in details oficonstruction and novel and advantageous arrangements and combinations of parts; as willrbe fully disclosed in the course of the Iollowing detailed des criptionncombined agitating and aerating action as; for

example the =-process of extracting metals from their ores by cyanidation An embodiment of the invention has been illustratedin theaccompanying drawings in the several views of which like parts are similarly int-which Figure 1 represents a p d sisartially sectional clever tion-oi two spitzkastens to which the invention is applied, v

Figure 2 is a top view of the same,

Figure 3, an enlarged sectional elevation of the agitating and aerating mechanism of the invention, parts of the same having been broken for lack of space,

t Figure 4, a face view of one of the members of the securing and mixing element included in the mechanism, and t Figure 5, an end elevation of, the apparatus looking inthe direction of the arrow A in Figure 1.

Referring further to the drawings the numerals 5 designate two spitakastens of conventional form and construction provided with a weir 6 to determine the level of their liquid contents, with overflow aprons 1 forthe removal of the floating minerals from the liquid level, and with openings 8 forthe admissionof the material to the lower portions of the vessels.

ll/lounted upon a superstructure 9 centrally above the spitzkasten, are motors Ill for the operation of the mixing and aerating mechanisms. These mechanisms are the same for each spitzkasten and a description of one will suffice to give a clear understanding of their construction and operation throughout the apparatus.

It is to be understood that while the drawings show, two spitzkastens in cooperative relation to each other, a single vesselormore than two ves sels maybe used according to the nature of the material to be-treated and the desired capacity of the plant, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

V- The mechanism above referred to comprises two cup shaped members I2 and I3 placed horizontally and spaced face to face in opposite relation, and; axially, in vertical, alinement. Each member has inside a circular rim 14 a series of equidistantly spaced radial blades l5 and the lower member I3 which is stationary with relation to the other a. central hollow hub it through which the ;material is admitted to the vessel. j, V

The upper mem r I2 is iastened at=the lower end of a shaft I! which by means of a coupling I8 is connected withthe shaft 19 of the respective motor. The shaft H is supported against lateral displacement in tworoller bearings 20 at opposite ends of along tubular sleeve H which by means of bolts 22 is suspended fromthe structure on which the motor is mounted.

The sleeve has for this purpose a flange 23 and it is provided with stuffing boxes 24 and 25 to prevent liquid or other matter from splashing into its ends. A casing 26 concentric to the sleeve, carries at its upper end, a flanged collar 2'! for the application of bolts 28 by means of which it is suspended from the superstructure or from the flange at the upper end of the sleeve. The bolts extend through holes in the collar and they are provided with nuts 29 above and below the flange of the same so that the casing may be adjusted vertically to thereby .vary the. space between the stationary and movable agitating members l2 and I3.

A set screw 3!! extending through a threaded aperture in a reenforcing ring 3| of the casing, aids in centering it with relation to the bearing Sleeve.

Fastened at the lower end of the tubular casing is a hood 32 which covers and enclosesthe agitating element of the apparatus, consisting of the two members I2 and i3 describedhereinbefore, and secured at the lower edge of this hood, is a ring 33 which has 'an-inwardlyprojecting arm 34 upon which the stationary lower member of the element is'supported. The' arm has to this end, an opening toreceive the hub of the member l3, and the projecting portion of the hub is screw-threaded for the application of a coupling 35 by means of which it is'fastened to the hollow p1ug35 of a flexible-conduit or hose 31 through which the material is admitted to the r A v A washer 38 of rubber or other suitable material-restricts the opening to the hollow hub of the stationary member and thereby produces a partial vacuum, which in turn'produces a suction that assists in drawing the pulp upwardly through the conduit 3'1, and renders the minerals and the gangue more susceptible *to'the action of the water and the oilrespectively.

The hollow hub of the stationary member of the agitating element has-atransverse aperture in which is fitted the end of a'pipe39 which likewise is supported on the arm'of thering at the lower edge of the hood, and which connects with the atmosphere and can be'throttled as the conditions of the ore demand.

The ends of the flexible intake conduits of the agitating mechanisms in the spitzkastens extend loosely through the inlet openings'B'in the bottom portions of the same and the conduit-of the spitzkasten which is first in the seriesconnects with a stand pipe 40 of a feed box or other source from which the material to betreated is obtained.

In this connection it is to be understood that if so desired the material may befed directly into 1 the first spitzkasten andfrom one spitzkasten to another through the connecting openings in which case the ends of the suction conduits would be placed in the lower portions of the respective spitzkastens to withdraw the aterial from the bottom thereof. I Y

In the operation of the apparatus the material fed through the pipe 40 enters the conduit 37. Rotation of the upper member of the agitating element by the respective motor, creates a partial P vacuum, regulated bythe distance between the members of the element, which draws the material through the conduit into the space between themembers where'it is mixed and scoured.

The airenteringthroughthe pipe39 is disseminated-through the material which passes around the lower edge offthe hood 32 into the The colloidal envelopes of the'metallic particles in'the material are expanded by the partia] vacuum and'the-particl'es aresmoothed and polished with the result that they repel the water in the pulp and acquire an aiflnity for the oil or other flotation agent supplied to the vessel. The buoyant metallic particles aided by the finely divided air and the oil, ascend to the surface of the liquid in the vessel where they congregate in a froth or film which is removed across the overflow. I

The silicious contents of the material 'at the same time sink to the bottom of the vessel and are withdrawn through the conduit of the next spitz kasten in which the above described operation is repeated.

The gangue in the last spitzkasten of the series or that remaining in the other spitzkasten may be loosened and removed from the bottom thereof bywithdrawing the ends of the flexible conduits from the openings 8 in which they are loosely disposed, and placing said ends in the settled material when by the partial vacuum constantly maintained by continuous rotation-of the shaft H, the settled mass is loosened and brought'into circulation in the vessel.

The last mentioned feature of the invention is of considerable value since the gangue settling into a cake at the bottom of the spitzkasten, particularly when the operation of the apparatus is discontinued, interferes with the separating process and clogs up the communicating ports between the vessels and ordinarily can be removed only at an expenditure of much time and labor.

' The coarse gangue is usually removed from the last spitzkasten through a valve-controlled outlet 45.

It is to be observed that the enclosure for the rotary parts of the mechanism, including the casing 26 and the deflecting hood prevent-formation of a vortex by the rotary motion which otherwise would seriously interfere with the upward movement of the mineral particles and in general would impede the separating process. The hood moreover aids in scouring'and disseminating the metallic particles by obstructing their outward movement under centrifugal force and deflecting them downwardly to enter the liquid in the spitzkasten across the lower edge of the hood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:- 1. In flotation apparatus, a vessel adapted to be filled with liquid to a certain point, an agitating and suction element inthe vessel below that point, a conduit for feeding material to theelement, and having its mouthoutside the vessel, the conduit being adjustable for placing its mouth inside the vessel for the removal of settled matter and means to admit air to thematerial.

12. In flotation apparatus, a vessel adapted to be filled'with liquid to a certain point and having an intake opening below thatpoint, an agitating and suction unit suspended in the vessel beneath the liquid level, a conduit for feeding material to the unit, extending loosely through the intake opening and meansto admit air to the material. v

3. In flotation apparatus, a vessel adapted to be filled with a liquid to a certain point, an agitating unit in the vessel below thatpoint, in-- cluding a stationary member and'a rotary member in cooperative relation to each other, a motor outside the vessel in driving connection withthe rotary'member, an enclosure closed atits top for the rotary parts of the element, extending below the liquid level, said enclosure having an opening for the discharge of material into the liquid in the vessel, and a conduit for feeding material to the element and means to admit air to the material,

4. In flotation apparatus, a vessel adapted to be filled with a liquid to a certain point, an agitating unit in the vessel below that point, including a stationary member and a rotary member in cooperative relation to each other, a motor outside the vessel in driving connection with the rotary member, an enclosure for the rotary parts of the element, extending below the liquid level, including a tubular casing and a hood at the lower end thereof, the hood being closed at its top and open at its bottom, and a conduit for feeding material to the element and means to admit air to the material.

5. In flotation apparatus, a vessel adapted to be filled with a liquid to a certain point, an agitating unit in the vessel below that point, including a stationary member, an upright rotary shaft, a member on the shaft in cooperative relation to the stationary member, a motor outside the vessel in driving connection with the shaft,

a casing enclosing the shaft, a hood at the lower end of the casing, over the cooperative members of the unit, and a conduit for feeding material to the members and means to admit air to the material.

6. In flotation apparatus, a vessel adapted to be filled with liquid to a certain point, an agitating unit in the vessel below that point, including a stationary member, an upright rotary shaft, a member on the shaft in cooperative relation to the stationary member, a motor outside the vessel in driving connection with the shaft, a bearing sleeve for the shaft extending into the vessel, a casing enclosing the bearing sleeve and the shaft, a hood at the lower end of the casing over the cooperative members of the unit, a conduit for feeding material to the members and means to admit air to the material.

7. In flotation apparatus, a vessel adapted to be filled with liquid to a certain point, an agitating unit in the vessel below that point, including a stationary member, an upright rotary shaft,

a member on the shaft in cooperative relation to the stationary member, a motor outside the vessel in driving connection with the shaft, a casing enclosing the shaft, a hood at the lower end of the casing, over the cooperative members of the unit, a support on the hood for the stationary member, a conduit for feeding material to the members, connected with the stationary member on the supportand means to admit air to the material.

8. In flotation apparatus, a vessel adapted to be filled with liquid to a certain point, an agitating unitin the vessel below that point, including a stationary member, an upright rotary shaft, a member on the shaft in cooperative relation to the stationary member, a motor outside the vessel in driving connection with the shaft, an enclosure for the rotary parts of the unit inside the vessel, a conduit for feeding material to the unit, the stationary member and the conduit being supported by the enclosure and means to admit air to the material.

9. In flotation apparatus, a vessel adapted to be filled with liquid to a certain point, an agitating unit in the vessel below that point, including a stationary member, an upright rotary shaft, a member on the shaft in cooperative relation to the stationary member, a motor outside the vessel in driving connection with the shaft, an enclosure for the rotary parts of the unit inside the vessel,

a conduit'for feeding material to the unit, and a pipe for admitting air to the material, the stationary member, the conduit and the pipe being supported by the enclosure.

10. Flotation apparatus comprising in combination a flotation cell, a rotary driving shaft extending downwardly into said cell, an impeller having agitating blades and a top coverrotatably carried by said shaft, a stationary sleeve surrounding said shaft and extending from a point adjacent said impeller to a point above the pulp and froth level in said cell, a discharge outlet for said cell, and a tube leading to said impeller from the point of pulp entrance to said cell for delivering pulp to said impeller.

ERNEST A. COLBURN, J R. 

